Firefox 3.6.4 Released, Protects Against Video Crashes

Firefox 3.6.4 has just been released, and its main new feature is better crash protection for Windows and Linux computers, including videos running in Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime and Microsoft Silverlight.

Not crashing the browser when plugins fail is how this is accomplished according to the Mozilla Blog and is somewhat similar to how Google Chrome handles crashes – see the screenshot below: Firefox even uses a similar sad face when the plugin crashes. Here’s how Mozilla describes the process:

“This release provides crash protection for Windows and Linux users by isolating third-party plugins when they crash. Results from our beta testing show Firefox 3.6.4 will significantly reduce the number of Firefox crashes experienced by users who are watching online videos or playing games. When a plugin crashes or freezes while using Firefox, users can enjoy uninterrupted browsing by simply refreshing the page.